About half of neuroblastomas start in the adrenal glands. The rest tend to cluster around the nerves near the pelvis, neck or chest.

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It’s an extremely aggressive cancer. And in little Zainab’s case, it’s compounded by her genetic heritage.

According to the New York Times, part of neuroblastoma treatment involves regular blood transfusions. However, Zainab’s blood doesn’t contain the Indian-B antigen, a common part of most people’s makeup.

However, individuals of Pakistani, Indian or Iranian descent sometimes also lack that specific molecule. It’s not many, though.

Studies say only four percent of people from those genetic backgrounds are missing the antigen. What’s more, Zainab has A-positive blood, so any donor would need to have Type A or Type O blood.

Her father, Raheel Mughal, said, “The doctor said that for every bone marrow transplant, she’s going to need two to three units [of blood]. … And that’s not how much blood is available.”

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Indeed, USA Today reported that only four donors have been found worldwide who are a match with Zainab. That’s not enough to give her a fighting chance.

Donors can only give once every 56 days. And the little girl will need at least three to six more donors for her to continue to get the treatment she needs.

So what can a parent do? Zainab’s family has partnered with OneBlood, a nonprofit dedicated to facilitating blood transfusions. Over 22,000 people have contacted the organization since it started publicizing the young girl’s plight.

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It has also tested more than 2,200 units of blood. They’ve only found one match.

That doesn’t mean they or Zainab’s parents are going to give up. To learn more about donation efforts, visit Zainab’s OneBlood page.

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A graduate of Wheaton College with a degree in literature, Loren also adores language. He has served as assistant editor for Plugged In magazine and copy editor for Wildlife Photographic magazine.

A graduate of Wheaton College with a degree in literature, Loren also adores language. He has served as assistant editor for Plugged In magazine and copy editor for Wildlife Photographic magazine. Most days find him crafting copy for corporate and small-business clients, but he also occasionally indulges in creative writing. His short fiction has appeared in a number of anthologies and magazines. Loren currently lives in south Florida with his wife and three children.